Toby Harnden was the Daily Telegraph's US Editor, based in Washington DC, from 2006 to 2011. Click here for Toby's website. Follow him on Twitter here @tobyharnden and on Facebook here. He is the author of the bestselling book Dead Men Risen: The Welsh Guards and the Defining Story Britain's War in Afghanistan.

Jeb Bush on Sarah Palin: 'I don't know what her deal is.'

Some breathtakingly candid comments from Jeb Bush – who could surely be one of the strongest GOP candidates in 2012 should he wish to run – about Sarah Palin. They come 18 minutes and 39 seconds into this fascinating Newsmax interview with the former Florida governor.

Bush praises her "charisma" but then says that she needs to add to this "some depth of understanding of the complexity of life". She has an "innate ability to communicate and connect with folks" but seems to feel that that's pretty much it. If she could build on that with, er, understanding of and insight into the world then she could be an "incredible candidate".

To put it mildly, that's rather faint praise.

Bush then delivers what amounts to a devastating critique of Palin: "I don't know what her deal is. My belief is in 2010 and 2012 public leaders need to have intellectual curiosity. The world is really an amazing place but it is very complex, it is very fast moving. If you think you've got it all figured out, the minute you start thinking that is the first day of your demise."

Just in case Bush thinks he's stopped talking about Palin, he adds: "So if she has those skills and she wants to run then she'll be a great candidate."

It is hard to dispute that Bush is right on both counts. Palin clearly possesses a rare and natural political talent. But thus far she has displayed very little willingness to build on this by studying the world and coming up with some intelligent conclusions or questions about it.

Given that Palin has been in the national – and international – spotlight for nearly 18 months now, it is highly questionable whether she has any real inclination to do what she has to do if she is truly serious about being elected President.